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The Vatican City is slowly turning into the Windy City ... 'cause Pope Leo XIV was back showing major love for his Chicago White Sox this week!!

The Pontiff put his fandom on display as White Sox chants erupted during the General Audience address on Wednesday ... acknowledging the message of support for the ball club as he cruised around on the Popemobile.

Since being elected, Leo has embraced his South Side ties with open arms ... and he is no stranger to wearing his fandom on his sleeve.

11 AM PT -- We just found out what Karen Read and her crew ordered at her celebratory steak dinner last night -- and it was a serious feast.

A staffer at Mastro’s Ocean Club tells TMZ the group dug into multiple seafood towers, a spread of sliced steaks -- including bone-in ribeyes and bone-in filets -- and wrapped things up with butter cake, chocolate cake, and key lime pie.

Another source tells us the 3-hour-long dinner featured lobster, mashed potatoes, and asparagus ... with each guest ordering their own alcoholic drinks

Now that’s an order!

Karen Read celebrated her huge victory in court Wednesday at one of the finest steakhouses in Massachusetts ... she was as happy as a clam -- and so was her dad!

Read showed up last night at Mastro's Ocean Club in the Boston seaport to gnaw on a big juicy steak and other yummy delicacies following her acquittal in her retrial for the 2022 murder of her police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and two other charges, including motor vehicle manslaughter. But, Read was found guilty on a lesser charge of driving under the influence and handed a sentence of a year on probation.

As Read, her dad and her lawyers arrived at the restaurant, a bunch of journalists gathered outside and began hurling questions at Karen. One of the reporters asked how she was feeling ... and Read cracked a big smile, saying, "Happy. I'm happy, thank you."

Okay, now she's really outdone herself!!! Can you guess which babe snapped this shower selfie?! This model hasn't backed down from exposing some skin (or all of it) this week, and we're givin' her a big ol' win!

When she's not owning the runways or struttin' around the concrete jungle, she's back in Beverly Hills givin' her famous 'rents a run for their money!

Serena Williams looks ready to come out of retirement -- the tennis legend put her incredible figure on display on Thursday ... and her fans can't get enough of her look!!

The 43-year-old posted the snaps of her in a two-piece 'fit at cryotherapy ... posing under a sign that read just how cold the treatment was -- an unimaginable -110 degrees.

The practice exposes the body to intense cold temperatures ... and is believed to be effective for weight loss and other health benefits.

Taylor Swift is still very much involved in the Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively beef ... after a judge's latest ruling.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, a judge ruled Justin's Wayfarer company can seek communications between Taylor and Blake that relate to the drama on "It Ends With Us."

Blake was asking the judge to stop Justin's camp from getting his hands on her messages with Taylor, claiming Justin was using her relationship with Taylor to "prop up a public relations narrative outside of court."

Khloe Kardashian just dropped a truth bomb -- saying she had more confidence before she shedded her thicker frame.

The reality star served up some realness in her latest "Khloé in Wonder Land" podcast, telling fitness influencer Whitney Simmons she was "way more confident" when she was heavier because she already knew what people were saying about her.

Continuing her truth train, KK also says all the positive attention she received after her weight loss had her worried about gaining the weight back ... 'cause she felt everyone expected that to happen.

Cuba Gooding Jr. didn't mince words when asked about the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran potentially dragging the USA into war -- saying when you put everything in perspective, war is just flat-out ignorant.

TMZ caught up with the actor at LAX Wednesday ... he remarked on the brutality of war being propelled by men in powerful positions who are making decisions to wipe people off the planet, just to make their point.

Cuba points out how we're all constantly exposed to the anger and devastation from all corners of the world now thanks to the internet -- what used to be a one-sided view of heroes and villains has morphed into something far more personal.

A SpaceX Starship exploded into a massive fireball during a routine test launch Wednesday night ... and the stunning blast was caught on camera.

Check it out ... all appears to be normal -- until an intense explosion sends a fierce plume of orange and red blaze into the night sky ... coincided with furious bangs.

The spectacular blast occurred just after 11 PM at the Texas Starbase facility near Boca Chica Beach as SpaceX was preparing for the 10th test launch of its Starship -- which the Elon Musk-founded company says is the world's most powerful launch vehicle ever developed.

The sale of the Los Angeles Lakers is getting a big stamp of approval from one of the organization's biggest stars ... with Luka Doncic saying he's ready to win some championships under new owner Mark Walter.

"The Lakers are an amazing organization," the 26-year-old Slovenian hooper said Thursday. "I'm looking forward to meeting Mark and excited about the future."

As we previously reported, the Buss family is giving up their majority stake in the historic franchise ... but Jeanie will remain as team governor for years to come, which Doncic was thrilled about.

NYC restaurateur Melba Wilson is heartbroken over the sudden death of celebrity chef Anne Burrell ... telling TMZ it’s left her and the entire culinary world gutted.

Melba, a fellow Food Network personality, tells us she just spoke to Anne last week -- chatting about karaoke, backgammon, and life -- and nothing seemed out of the ordinary as she appeared healthy and vibrant.

When asked if Anne had ever mentioned being unwell, Melba shut it down -- saying there was never a word about any health issues.

What would a modeling shoot be like without Kendall Jenner in a string bikini?

Luckily, we won't have to find out because here she is lying poolside in her sexy two-piece.

That's right ... Kendall posed for a series of photos while modeling Calzedonia’s Minimal Fit string bikini top with a thong bottom.

Johnny Wactor wrapped his final film before he was tragically gunned down last year -- and we’ve got an exclusive scene for you ahead of its world premiere next week.

The late actor stars in the indie drama "Ciao, Mama" ... which will officially premiere at the Dances With Films festival next Tuesday at L.A.’s iconic TCL Chinese Theatre -- honoring Wactor’s life the same week his suspected killers return to court.

The movie's premise is about a man returning home to face what he left behind and wrestle with what it means to move forward with his life. Wactor didn’t just act in the film -- he also produced it.

Johnny Damon -- like so many Red Sox fans -- wishes Rafael Devers' Boston career had ended differently ... telling TMZ Sports this week the situation is "just horrible for everyone."

The former Sox outfielder sat down with us on Wednesday, some three days after Devers was jettisoned to San Francisco, and he made it clear, he would have preferred both sides work their differences out.

He said the trade is unfortunate for nearly every party, but noted Red Sox supporters are likely hurting the most.

Put down your weights and see if you can pick up these two hot Hollywood hunks bustin' through with the BULK!!!

Model Christian Hogue is dukin' it out with actor Nicholas Galitzine ... While Christian is used to outweighing his worthy opponents, Nicholas IS in fact a prince (playing opposite Camila Cabello in the 2021 rendition of "Cinderella").

The question here is: Who'd You Rather?!

VOTE NOW!

Before this cute lil' kid in his red vest was producing music bops for Drake and Kendrick Lamar, he was just playing bass guitar for his middle school in St. Louis, Missouri ... and playin' around with his four siblings ...

When he was 13 years old, he started makin' beats and by the time he hit high school, his mom drove him to and from Atlanta, Georgia to meet with peeps in the biz -- He lives in ATL to this day.

In 2014, this talented dude collaborated on an album with Young Thug.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is on the move ... because she's been released from a hospital stay.

Noem was discharged from a Washington, D.C. hospital on Wednesday, according to the Wall Street Journal.

As we reported ... Noem was rushed to a hospital by ambulance Tuesday after suffering an allergic reaction.